Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2008-09: Martin Gernat turned in a quality season with HC Presov U18 in Slovakia, posting 34 points (6 goals and 28 assists) in 41 games from the blueline.

2009-10: Gernat played another full year with HC Presov U18 with 4 goals and 24 assists in 41 games. Also got into two playoff games with the U20 team but was held scoreless.

2010-11: After 7 points in 8 games with the U18 club, Gernat played the balance of the season with HC Presov U20 posting 3 goals and 15 assists in 28 games during the regular season as well as 3 goals and 3 assists in 12 postseason games. Gernat also represented Slovakia at the World Junior Championships, notching one assist in the 6 games. Gernat was chosen in the fifth round, 122nd overall, of the 2011 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.

2011-12: Gernat skated for the WHL champion Edmonton Oil Kings in his first season in North America and represented Slovakia at the 2012 U20 World Junior Championship. One of three Oilers’ prospects to skate for the Oil Kings, he scored 9 goals with 46 assists and was plus-41 with 46 penalty minutes in 60 games. He scored 7 goals with 6 assists and was plus-8 with 8 penalty minutes in 20 playoff games. In four games at the Memorial Cup he scored 1 goal and was minus-three.

2012-13: Gernat returned to the lineup for the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings in January after recovering from a shoulder injury. He was an offensive presence from his defensive spot in the second half and in the playoffs. Gernat scored 3 goals with 10 assists and was +8 with 14 penalty minutes in 23 regular season games. Edmonton finished first in the Central Division and lost to Portland in the WHL Finals. Gernat scored 6 goals with 11 assists in 22 playoff games and was +16 with 6 penalty minutes. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Oilers in April, 2013.

2013-14: Gernat skated for Edmonton AHL affiliate Oklahoma City in his first pro season — briefly spending time with the ECHL’s Bakerfsfield Condors. Teamed at times with fellow rookie and former Edmonton Oil Kings teammate David Musil with the Barons, he scored 4 goals with 17 assists and was -12 with 26 penalty minutes in 57 regular season games. Oklahoma City finished third in the West Division and lost to eventual Calder Cup champion Texas in a first-round playoff series. Gernat was -1 with no points nor penalties in his only playoff game. In three ECHL games with Bakersfield he had 1 assist and was -2 with 6 penalty minutes.

2014-15: Gernat skated in 54 games for Oilers’ AHL affiliate Oklahoma City in his second pro season. He scored 1 goal with 8 assists and was +1 with 32 penalty minutes. Oklahoma City finished third in the West Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Gernat did not appear in any playoff games.

Talent Analysis

Gernat is a lanky rearguard who skates well and has some offensive instincts. He has excellent vision, is a quality passer, and is very confident with the puck, whether he is carrying it out of the zone or distributing it. Gernat still needs to work on his defensive positioning and decision making and continue to add bulk to his lean frame.

Future

Gernat began the 2015-16 season with new Edmonton affiliate Bakersfield — struggling to get ice time in his second AHL season. He was dealt by the Edmonton Oilers along with a fourth round pick to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Patrick Maroon at the trade deadline in February 2015. The move will re-unite Gernat with former Oilers' head coach Dallas Eakins — the coach of Ducks' AHL affiliate San Diego — and it is hoped the fresh start can kick start his career. Still more of project than prospect at this point, Gernat's skills suggest he can play at the NHL level but his performance has yet to match that potential.

Photo: Edmonton Oilers prospect Anton Slepyshev showed off some slick puck skills while with the NHL club earlier this season, but has to prove consistency at the AHL level (courtesy of Terry Lee/Icon Sportswire)

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Photo: Edmonton Oilers prospect Anton Slepyshev brought high-level puck skill to the Oilers’ bottom-six forwards but did not generate much in the way of offense (courtesy of Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

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Photo: Edmonton draft pick Kyle Platzer has more goals this season than in the last two combined. (courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL Images

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Photo: Edmonton Oilers prospect Jujhar Khaira has worked hard to develop a complete game in his rookie season with Oklahoma City (courtesy of John Rivera/Icon Sportswire)

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